We have recently returned from a fabulous holiday to the beautiful St Ives.

We love the atmosphere of Cornwall being so close to the coast, with its pretty white stone buildings, cobbled lanes with an array of individual shops. There is a real laid-back vibe and it really is a home from home now. It’s very inspiring down there and we cannot wait to return there in the summer.

Listed below are a selection of some of our favourite shops and restaurants that we visited along with some great examples of products and art we encountered on our travels.

A chocolate lovers paradise and one of our favourites for a treat during the day! I Should Coco is a small family owned artisan style chocolate house. It not only produces great tasting treats but also offers custom designed edible creations of pretty much whatever a customer would want. We highly recommend taking a look!

We absolutely love the fused glassware that Niko designs at her home studio in Truro. Her stunning pieces really capture the feel of the area in their own unique way. You can also take in other examples of her contemporary artwork pieces such as paintings, ceramics , sculpture and prints.

The Porthminster Kitchen is a beautifully designed restaurant in St Ives supplying locals and tourists alike with an abundance of delicious Cornish cuisine (we highly recommend the lobster ). It’s party piece is undoubtedly the amazing 180 degree panoramic views across the harbour. A real delight on a sunny day. Great cappuccino too!

The Harbour restaurant is a new trendy place that has a great vibe and is situated literally only metres away from the waters edge. Again if you’re lucky enough to get yourself a window seat you will be treated to fabulous views of the St Ives coastline.

Lastly for this months blog, a local business that truly epitomises Cornwall, and we are not just talking about the name! Cream started initially creating hand crafted mugs but soon expanded out to a variety of different homeware objects and artistic pieces - each with the unmistakable identity of the south west….and whats not to love about that!

Do you have a particular area of Cornwall you really enjoy? If so we’d love to hear your recommendations if so!